hi bill-i note your comments re mutations.as you say changes in characteristics do occur but i dont think that there is any proven path through life forms from what i call micro to macro change,though i concede that from a materialistic view with deep time thrown into the equasion it must seem plausible.but then again with such great complexity in even the simplest of life,- such change still seems extremely fanciful however much time is envisaged.
regards pete